Illuminating device



March19, 1929. H. H. BoYcE i ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed June 24, 1922 2Shef a' ,s-SheeL March 19, 1929.' H. H. BOYCE '1,705,604

` ILLUMINATING-DEVCE 4 Filed June 24. 19222 2 sheets-shea 2 ZZ M mlmmal/4" Patented Mar. 19, 1.929,.

HARRISON BoYeE, `or marsilio, New Yoan.' i

ILLUMI'NATING nevica." I

j Application ledA June 24,

rlhis invention relates to illuminating devices for motor heatindicators. lt is particularly concerned with the illumination oflinstruments for indicatingjthev temperatures of the internalcoinloustion'en'-V gines or' motor vehicles and is'in the nature ot anVimprovement onthe invention illustrated and described in myfpriorapplication for patent on illuminating devices, filed April 12, 1922,Serial No.` 551,956. The said patent application contemplates, briefly,to` provide an indicating instrument with an illuminating deviceconsisting of a 'glow vessel in theform ot a tube containing'a rareiiedgasand elec- 15' trically connectedto the terminal of a spark plug. Thecharacter of the gas and thegdegree of rareiication are such thatthe gasis caused to glow when subjectedto the spark plug potential. v

The present application relates to'an' improved manner of incorporatingthe said tube with a certain well-known form ofmotor temperatureindicating instrument, the object being to locate the illuminatingdevicefin diev rect proximity to the indicating element of the linstrument, so as to render the indications of the instrument verydistinctly visible. y

A good understanding ofthe above and va-k rious other features andvobjects of the in-` vention'maynow behad from the following' i5description thereof l having particular refer ence to the accompanyingdrawings, in which, Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation of one formot instrument iembodying my invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of Figure1; v

ure 1;

Y Figures l and 5are sections of Figure2 on lines IVIV and V-J,respectively, looking l Figure 6 isaview showing the instrumen v of thepresent invention mounted on theradiatorcap of a motor vehicle,andoperatively connected to a spark plug thereof; f, f

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in each of theseveral views;

The temperature-indicating "instrument,

y Figure 3 is a longitudinal section o-Figr in the direction of thearrows; and

ldistinctly visible in daylight,when, owing to 1922. semainel 570,620.

thermometer are rendered visiblev to the driver or other occupant ot thevehicle. rlhe casing 3 is provided with a base 5 whereby the same may bemounted upona radiator cap 6 in 60 such manner that the bulb 1 willextend into the top of the radiator of the'motor vehicle (seejFigure 6).rAs indicated particularly in "Figures l and, the glass tace orcrystal.4- of l* the instrument is retained in place by means of a bezel 9secured to the annularly shaped casing by means of screws 8; f. Theltube for illuminating the instrument is indicated by the numeral 10. Itis mount- 1 ed direct-ly behind the stem 2 of the thermom- 70 eter andparallel thereto, being secured inpesition by means ot a block 11 ofhard rubber Y or other suitable material having an elongated h ole 12providing a receptacletor accommodating and supporting the tube, thishole l opening toward the face of the rubber block,

as indicated at 12a, so that'thelight fromvthe tube will shine on thestem 2 of the thermometer located directly in irontof the opening, asbest. illustrated in Figures l-.and 5.- A ring 16 provided witha'beveled outer flange 18 cooperates withfthebeveled edge or a crysf tal1,7 to hold the block 11 lfirmly in engage- 'nient with the ange20 oithecasing; lt

the ringl and block 11, the crystal 17 which is of somewhat greaterdiameter than the open ing inthe frame 3 maybe placed` overfthev openside thereof and held inplace by-a bezel similar to bezel 9. A nameplate 21 is inter-- posed between the crystal and block 11. The' tace oflblock 11 is provided withy markings or graduations 23 which cooperatewith the tliermometric column to indicate thetemperature ofthesengine.The name plate and the block are provided Withia circular transverseopening 22, the purpose of which is to render y thecolumn 4ot' thethermometric fluidyery abnormal temperature conditions the column risesto such height as to pass beyondv the lower limit of the opening 22. v Yn The tube 10 is fixed rigidly in block 11', seal# ing material 24Vbeingprovided at the ends of the tube to retain the same inplace.. Thelower en d out the tube is associated by means ofv a detachablerconnector 25` with a wire 26, which Vwire leads to the terminal of a'spark 4 plug 27 oi' the engine, a. condenser 28 or other impedance beingpreferably interposed in this connection to prevent a short-cirouitingof the plug by an accidental grounding of wire 26.y .y

i lower end of the tube and impressed on the.

Viarerli'ed gas, such as neon, in the interior ofn the tube. The upperend of the tube is con-- lnected to ground through an electrode 30,.

which, as indicated at 31, is metallically connected to the ring 16,which ring, by virtue of its connection with the (.-asing 3 yof the inrestricted'to a beam directed on. the said' strument, is connected toground;V

y The potentialV of the spark plug will ycause thegasin thertube to glowandv thus illumin ate thestem of the thermometer and'render itsindications .plainly visible'to the'driver or other occupant ofzthevehicle. Avportion of the lightof thevtube yWillbe reflectedby tliestemV 2 and directed on the'face ofblock 11 and thusl :render themarkings or gradua` vtions thereof readable at night.`

the thermometer, direct rays Oflight from the tube Will be uiiabletopass' out through the faceof the instrument, particularly in thedirection approximately normal tothe face. Theoperator ofthe vehicle isthus not subjected to such direct rays aiidhis 'vision of the dark roadahead isnot impaired. The glow'of `the tube will be intermittentincharkacter and 'have such low intensity as to pro-- duce a pleasingeffect.

Itisheuld-be noted that Ythe illuminating device proper may convenientlybe kfurnished asan attachment to existing temperature in dicatinginstruments of the general character illustrated in thefdrawing.`struments vthe back cover consists merely of the crystal 17 and nameplate 21, these parts being secured on the rear wall `ofthe instruaVment bylmeans of a, bevelled ,ring similarV to `that indicated at 9 onthe face o'litheinstru-- that many changes and modifications maybe- Itwill be observed that to provide such an instrument withtlie'illuminating ,device of the resent invention it is necessar merel ii i a )n to remove the above-described back cover'by uiiscrerving theattaching screws for the bev- `elled ring and substituting therefor theparts 10, 11, 2 1, 17 and 16. These parts may be furnished, as anassembled structure, .or assembled on the spot by utilizing the oldcrystall an-d the name plate 2 1, as will be readily understood.. i

'Although I have hereinY shown and described only one specific form ofembodiment of the invention, it will be readily understood vmadethereinwithout departing fromV the spirit and scope of the invention, itbeing my intention to claim the saine as broadly as the state oftheprior. art will permit, in `whatever v form its principle maybeemployed.

What claimis: l Y `1.V In an attachment for illuminating a In such in-Ytemperature indicating device, .comprising a thermometer and 'aring-shaped'casmg for enclosing the stein. thereof, the combination Vofan elongated tube Vcontaining Va rareied gas adapted to.v glow whensubjected to potential,

and securing means for cooperating Vwith said ring-shaped casing tosecure said tube,be-

hind the steinfofsaid thermometer, and Y means wherebythe light fromsaid tube is stein, saidineans comprising a block of maj terial .havingvsaid tube embedded therein, i

Linent being comprised vof athermometer and a ring-shapedlcasingenclosing'the stem'of i said thermometer, said attachment compris-V ing`anl elongated tube containingfa rarefied: gas subject to glow'whensubjected to potential, aybloclr for partially'enclosingsaid tube,

said block being'providedwith' a narrow opening, a-'cr'ystah anaineplate interposed between said crystal in said block and the' rearwall of said' block. and a clamping de# lvice for securing said block,name plateV and crystal to thefiear Wall 'of the said casi-ng.

8. The combination'with a temperature indicating device including a-stemof a ring sli'aped'ca'sing enclosingsaid stem,`a pair *Y of similarcrystals for closing the open-sides lofsaid ring shaped casing, and thinelon.

gatedilluminating means between one of saidcrystals andjsaid casingforilluminating the stem of-said temperature' indicating device.

said means being directly yb'ehind'anddii proximity to the stemandextendinggsubstantially parallel Y.thereto f'or'diffusing the lightsubstantially uniformly around the stem.

` l. Thefcombination with a temperature indicatingxdev'ice includingafstem, ofa ring .shaped .casing enclosing Vsaid stem, .afpairof L isimilar crystalsv for closing the'open'sides of said ringshaped casing,means tosecure one crystal to onev sideof saidcasing,`means tosupportthe other crystal spaced from the .Y

adapted to glow when subjected to potential, said tubebeingpositioneddirectly behind and 'substantially parallelvto the said stem and meansto connect said tube with asource of potential. y'

Inl combination,` a motor heat indicator having a glass stem containinga movableindicating fluid7 an enclosingcasing completely surroundingsaid stem, said casing includinga transparent crystal permittingobserva'- tion of the stern'fromA one side, anopaque body on the othersidevof the stem, saidbody other side ofsaidrcasing, means to support j.an elongated tube containing a rareied gas and between thelatterrcrystal and saidcasing hav-ing ay recess alongside theY stem, land anilluminating source carried in the recess,lthe

Walls of the recess shielding the illuminating source so that the'direct light from said illuminating source falls solely on the stem toilluminate the stem. I Y Y 6. In a motor heat indicator, an indicatingmeans, a housing therefor which permits observation of the indicating`means when t ie viding an extension for said casing and hav!v ing areceptacle thereinl for supporting a l suitablelamp and having aperipheral contour harmonizing with those of suchl easing and itsremovablewvall section and being formed and arranged for'vinter-positioning therebetween to thereby separa-tcsaid movable Wallsection a sutlicient distance ifroni said casing to provide space forsuch a lamp, and a terminal for the supply of energy to said receptacle,said terminal extending through the Wall yot said member.

8. An attachment for a. temperature observing device having a casing oneof the Walls of which is transparent and another et the Walls of whichis removably` secured to said casing, said attachment comprising anextension for said casing and having a rev-v ceptacle therein forsupporting a suitable lamp yand having a peripheral contour liarmonizingwith those of such casing and its removable Wall and being formed andarranged for interpositioning therebetween to thereby separate saidmovable Wall section a suticient distance from said casing to pro-` videspace for such a lamp.

' 9. ln an attachment for illuminating a teme perature indicatingdevice5 comprising a 7 thermometer and a ring-shaped casing 'forenclosing the stem thereof, theicombination of an elongated tubecontaining` a iarelied gas adapted to glou7 when subjected to potential,securing means tor cooperating withy said ring-shaped casingto securesaid'tubebehind i the stein of said therniometer,l and means forrestricting the light `from said tube to a beam directed on said steinand including a ineinber enclosing said tube to confine the .light`thereof but permitting escape of said light along Ia line opposite saidstem and substantially parallel therewitha i l0. The comloinai'iionlwith a temperature indicating device including a stein, an open casingfor enclosing said stem, trans-- parent crystals i'or closing the sidesof said casi-ng:a a thin elongated illuminating .device directly behindvand in proximity to sa id stein and extending substantially parallelthereto,v

a support for said illuminating device adapt-A ed tor intcrposition'between one of said crystals and the casing. f

n 11. The combination with a motor heat indicator having a thermometer,a ring-shaped casing tor enclosing the stem ot the thermometer,and'meansl for mounting the casing on 'a motor vehicle radiator, of anelongated tube containing a rar'eiied gas adapted to .glow whensubjected to potential,v and securing means for said tubeincluding atube support, engaging the adjacent side ot said ring` shaped casing tosecure said tube directly be'- hind and adjacent the stem of saidthermometer, and means Wherebythe light from said tube is restricted toa narrow vertical beam directed on the said stem. f i

ln testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature t-o this specification.

nannisoii n. Boron.

